Coin-freed mechanism for gas or other fluid meters.



PATENTBD MAR. 10, 1903. B. R.'BEALE- & A. E. BAGNALL.

COIN FREED MECHANISM FOR GAS OR OTHER FLUID METERS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7, 1901.

N0 MOD EL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 722,554. I PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. B. R. BEA'LE & A. E. BAGNALL.

COIN F REED MECHANISM FOR GAS OR OTHER FLUID ME-TERS.

APPLICATION FILED N07. 7, 1901. N0 MODEL.

3 sums-sum a W Usyred zzayrwzz nHoTo-UTHO. wAsnmcm No. 722,554. I PATENTED MAR. 10, 1903. B. R. BEALE & A. ELBAGNALL.

COIN FREED MECHANISM FOR GAS OR OTHER FLUID METERS.

- APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 7, 1901. 4

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W aw/ 91 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BERTRAM ROBERT BEALE AND ALFRED ERNEST BAGNALL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

COlN-FREED MECHANISM FOR G AS OR OTHER FLUID METERS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 722,554, dated March 10, 19053.

Application filed November '7, 1901. fierial No. 81,402. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, BERTRAM ROBERT BEALE, residing at 37 Lime street, and AL- FRED ERNEST BAGNALL, residing at 38 Lead enhall street, London, England, subjects of the King of Great Britain, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin- Freed Mechanism for Gas or other Fluid Meters, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is improved construction of coin-freed mechanism for gas and other fluid meters whereby any desired number of predetermined coins up to a certain quantity can be inserted into the apparatus for action automatically and consecutively during the working of the meter mechanism and by changing a wheel the number of feet of gas to be delivered for a predetermined coin can be altered to suit the current price of gas, the whole of the mechanism being simple in construction and action and is fitted in the top of the meter without material alteration of a meter, and, further, the valve or valves of the ordinary meter mechanism are shut off by the coin-freed mechanism when the desired quantity of gas has been delivered instead of a separate or stop valve, as is now the case.

Our invention is illustrated in the annexeddrawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of part of a coin-freed gas-meter, showing the index mechanism and the removable price changer wheel, Fig. 2 being a part-sectional plan of the index frame, showing the method of mounting the price-changer wheel with its crank-pin. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, and showing the operating parts. Fig. 4 is a plan of the meter with the cover removed.

For the purpose of this invention we pivot to a standard A in the upper part of the meter-casing a rod or axle B, carrying four arms, one arm G having a lipped piece at its end for abutment of aniextension D of the crank E of the usual valves and index-operating spindle F when the crank is in a certain position, another arm 0 also forming a stop for the crank extension D when in another position, as will be hereinafter described, the third arm H acting by a crank-pin I on a price-changer wheel J, the remaining arm K being bent for its nose L to enter a slot M of the coin-chute N to hold back the coins contained therein until after the first inserted coin has operated the axle B with its arms and the rod or axle B is moved over by the crank-pin I, actuating the curved arm H through thermotion of the meter mechanism, when the nose L will be removed from the slot M and the coin fall for the lowermost one to enter the pocket'P of a disk Q on a revolving axle R, this being moved by the claw S of a rod T, attached to an arm U of one of the flag-wires V of the meter mechanism, to again actuate the coin-freed mechanism for automatically continuing the supply of gas. Y 7

The front and back framing W and X of the index mechanism are provided with slots a for carryinga sleeve Y, which in turn carries the axle Z, on which the crank-pin I and the price changer wheel J are situate, the sleeve having a free movement in the slots to suit the size of price-changer wheel employed; but by the slotted arm or plate b, attached thereto, the sleeve is securely fixed in the adjusted position by a screw 0. The front or door (not shown) of the index mechanism is padlocked or sealed to the meter-casing, so that when a diiferent price-changer wheel J is required to be inserted all that is necessary is to unlock and remove or open the door, loosen the screw 0, securing the plate and sleeve, remove the index-wheel J, affix and adjust a new price-changer wheel J, tighten the plate by its screw, and refasten the door or front.

The action is as follows: The axle B having been actuated by the crank-pin I of the price-changer axle Z and the lipped piece of the arm G raised and the crank extension D of the meter-valve-operating spindle F abutting against same, one of the valves being closed and the meter mechanism and supply of gas stopped, now suppose the predetermined number of coins are inserted in the coin-chute N, the lower one finding a restingplace in a pocket P of the revolving cradle or disk Q, so that on the operation of a handle 6 the disk Q will be revolved and the coin carried around until it abuts against the end of the pivoted rod or axle B, which is move end on by the coin, this action removing the curved arm H from the crank-pin I of the price-changer axle Z. The lipped and curved arms 0 and H and another arm G being freed now drop clear of the crank extension D and place the bent nose L of the other arm K into the slot M of the coin-chute N to hold back the remaining coins. The continued circular motion of the coin will cause it to drop from the pocket and be discharged into a till or receptacle; but should the handle e not be operated sufficiently to free the coin the crank extension D of the meter-valve-opcrating spindle F will come into contact with the second-mentioned arm 0 and stop the meter mechanism and close the other valve until the handle 6 is moved far enough for the coin to be discharged. The axle B and the arms now return to their normal position, the curved arm H being under or at the opposite side of the crank-pin I of the pricechanger axle Z, so that the movement of the operating-spindle F will by its worm g and indexoperating gear h revolve the pricechanger gear, the motion continuing until the crank-pin I of the price-changer axle Z reaches the other side of the curved lever H, which (with the lipped and other levers (J and G on the axle B) it lifts to place them in position to block or stop the meter mechanism by reason of the lip of the first-mentioned arm G coming into the path of the spindle crank extension D. At the same time the nose L of the otherlever Kis'removed from the slot M in the coin-chute N to allow of the following coin dropping into the cradle of the disk. During the movements of the bellows the crank U of the flag-wire V has been revolving the disk Q by means of the claw S of its connecting-rod T engaging the ratchet-wheel 11, situate on the disks axle, but to no purpose, as the coins have been held back by the nose L of the lever K; but just before the lip of the arm G has reached its stopping position the nose L is removed from the slot in the coinchute, which allows the next coin to drop into the pocket P of the disk Q, which is revolved'by the crank U of the flag-wire. The coin forms then a connection, and the rod or axle carrying the arms is moved end on, the coin discharged, the arms fall, the curved arm H going back into position at the other side of the crank-pin of the price-changer axle, the meter mechanism continuing its motion and operating the coin-freed mechanism in the same manner until all the coins in the coin-chute are discharged, so that when the last coin has gone the axle and its arms will not be released after being placed in the stopping position, and consequently the meter mechanism will be stopped, as before explained, until the insertion of a fresh coin and the operation of the disk by the handle.

The coin-chute outside the meter-casing is provided with a slot j, so that the number of coins remaining can be seen by the consumer.

It will be understood that the stopping-lip G is raised very slowly, so that the action of the crank extension D upon the lip G will be gradual, while the crank first comes against the lip, and thus creates a temporary check,

causing the gas-supply to flicker or waver,

thus informing the consumer that a fresh coin must be inserted to continue the supply of gas.

It will be understood that the crank extension D is connected to the spindle, which is revolved by the usual bellows mechanism inside the casing, and in consequence will revolve the crank extension. When the arms G and O are lowered, the crankextension is free to move and will keep on revolving while there is pressure of gas in the meter; but as soon as said arms are lifted by the crank-pin I, that having come in the path of the crank extension D, the lip on the lever G is the first against which the crank extension D has contact, and in consequence of itsacting upon this lip a check or temporary stoppage is given to the bellows and the gas is checked in passing through the meter. Consequently there is a flickering or lowering of the light by temporarily arresting the supply; but this is only for a moment or two, as the lip of the lever G is of a springy nature, and the pressure of the gas is suflicient after the temporary check has been performed of passing the point of lever D over the lip extension and free from it; but when the lever D comes against the lever C it meets with a solid resistance and is stopped. The gas-supply is therefore out 01f by reason of the usual valves and bellows mechanism in the body of the casing proper being stopped in their action. On the insertion of the next coin the arms G and C are lowered to release the extension D, as previously set forth.

What we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In coin-freed mechanism for gas and other fluid meters, the combination of a coinchute, index mechanism, a valve-operating spindle having a crank, a rod mounted for longitudinal and turning movement and operable longitudinally by a coin, and four arms upon said rod, two of which constitute stops for controlling the valve-operating spindle, the third being arranged to be engaged by the index mechanism to thereby turn said rod, and the fourth serving to hold back the coins in the coin chute when said rod is turned.

2. In coin-freed mechanism for gas and other fluid meters, the combination of index mechanism, a coin-chute for containing a plurality of coins in superposed relation, a disk having a coin-pocket to receive the first coin of the series in the coin-chute, a longitudinally movable and turning rod adapted to be longitudinally moved by a coin, an arm upon said rod for operation by the index mechanism to thereby turn said rod, a second arm upon the rod for controlling the passage of the coins from said chute into said pocket a screw passing through said slot and tapped when the rod is turned, and mechanism for into the meter-casing. operating said disk. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set 3. In coin-freed mechanism for gas and our hands in presence of two subscribingwit- 5 like meters, a sleeve freely fitted in slots in nesses.

the casing of the meter, an axle rotative in BERTRAM ROBERT BEALE. said sleeve and removably carrying at its ALFRED ERNEST BAGNALL. outer end a price-changer wheel, an arm con- Witnesses:

neoted with the outer end of the sleeve and WM. 0. BROWN,

10 having a longitudinal slot at its free end, and 1 HUGH HUGHES. 

